Automatic car, train pipe, and electric coupler



Aprirl, 1924.- A 'Y T. R. BROWN AUTOMATIC CAR,i TRAIN PIPE, AND ELECTRICCOUPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6/, 191'?! T. Rf BROWN 2She'evts-Sheet 2 April 1' 1924.

AUTOMATIC CAR, TRAIN PIPE AND ELECTRIC COUPLER IIIIIIIIIIIA PatentedApr. 1, 1924.

' UNITED `sra'rlazs 'rnoMAs n. BROWN,

PATENTv OFFICE.

AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CAIR,` TRAIN PIPE, AND ELECTRIC COUPLER.

Application filed Karol! 6, 1917. Serial No. 152,695.

To all whom it may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sparkill, in the county of Rockland and State of NewA York,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Car,Train-Pipe, and Electric Couplers, of which improvement the following isa speciiication.

This invention relates to couplers for cars, andin which means are alsorovided for making the train ipe connections, and for coupling theelectric train wires between the carsI of the train. I have heretoforedesigned various forms of couplers for this purpose, and in which eachcoupler is formedof a body or casing having a mov.- ableflock forengaging acounterparthcoupler head, and also provided with one or moreeopassages having gasket openings for con- -necting .with correspondingopenings 1n a counterpart coupler for fluid pressure conduits.'` Thesecouplers have also been provided with electric portions, usually in thefor-m of a casing secured to the bottom of the coupler body, andcontaining a plurality of electric contacts connected to the respectivecar line circuits, and a movable contact carrier or slide havingcorresponding contacts and adapted to be projected into thecorresponding casing of a counterpart coupler for establishingelectrical connection between the corresponding circuits of therespective cars.

Fluid pressure means have been employed for releasing the coupler locks,for operating the valves in the fluid ressure train pipe conduits, andfor projectlng the contact carrier or slide of the electric portion,these devices being controlled by a manually operated valve usuallylocated in the cab at the end of the car.

There are certain relations which should be preserved between theoperations of these devices, for-instance, the contact carrier or slideof one of the couplers should not be projected until the coupler headsare securely locked together, as otherwise breakage or damage to saidslide is liable to result, and one of the objects of my presentimprovement is to provide for ensuring the locking of the couplersbefore the sllde can be projected.

In the electric portions as heretofore designed, the slide has been solocated as to be projected against the slide in the counterpart coupler-and force the' same inward against a spring tothe coupled position, andinreleasing, the spring operates to return both slides to their normalpositions, each within its respective casing. Accordlng to my presentimprovement, however, each slide or contact carrier is located back ofthe car circuit contacts, and is not moved by the slide of the othercoupler when projected into its casing for making the electr1cconnections. dependently of the other by its respective piston in boththe projecting and withdrawing movements, and no springs are required inthe operation. pling action, the slides are held in their retractedposition by fluid pressure controlled py 1ahe position and movement ofthe coupler oc s. i

Another feature of my present improvement relates more articularly tothe type of coupler in which) the counterpart heads approach eachother,in a lateral or diagonal direction, and comprises the location lof theelectric portion and slides so that they are projected in a line withthe diagonal direction of approach of the couplers,where by in case ofan accidental ullng apart of the couplers before the s ide is Withdrawn,the same will not be damaged or broken, as it will be drawn out of theoppositc casing in line with its usual move-- ment and without injury.

Still another feature of my invention coniprises improved covers, orshutters for cov ering and protecting the contact carrier or slide, andfor closing the opening in the casing when the slide is in the retractedposition and the couplers are separated.

Another object is to provide an improved form of closing valve for thetrain pipe passages, and means for effecting their closing operation atthe same time as releasing the coupler locks and withdrawing the slide.

These land other objects will now more fully appear from the followingdescription of a preferred form 'of constructions, and the novelfeatures will be set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional Viewshowing the various portions of two couplers em- Each slide is actuatedin- During the coubodying my improvements, cou led' together; Fig. 2, aplan of same; ug. 3, a plan showing, in detail, the adjoining ends ofthe slidesof the two couplers; Fig. 4, a verticalsection of the electricportion showing the shutters closed; and Fig. 45, a transverse sectionof the electric portlon taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

According to the construction shown, my improvement is applied inVconnectlon w1t a coupler of the rlgid lock type, that 1s, one in whichthe counterpart couplers are each provided with projecting portionshaving vertical plane surfaces arranged 1n an 1nclined or diagonaldirection, whereb the couplers en agel each other with a re ativelongitudine and lateral movement during the coupling action, and eachcoupler also having a pivoted lock or cam lever adapted to beautomatically clamped against a corresponding surface on the counterpartcouler. p These locking levers, 6, are normally pressed outward by thesprings, 7 acting on the pistons, 8, mounted in cylinders, 9,andconnected by rods, 10, with the ivoted locks for releasing the samewith uid pressure, admitted to said cylinders. The b'ody portion, 11, ofthe coupler contains the passages for the iuid pressure conduits, suchas the reservoir line connection, 12, and the train' brake pipe passage,13, said passages being formed in a diagonal direction in line with theapproach movement of the coupler heads and provided with suitablegaskets at the meetlng face of the coupler located at right angles tosaid passages. In the main reservoir passage are placed the valves, 14,having stems, 15, extending out through the gasket openings and adaptedto engage each other and thereby open the valves inthe two cou 1ers whenthe same are -brought toget er. The train brake pipe passa es arecontrolled by the piston valves, 16, aving springs, 17, for normallyclosing said valves against their seats, the pressure 1n the chamberback of each piston valve being governed by a small valve, 18, having astem, 18", actuated by a piston, 19, in chamber, 20, for controlling theport, 21, communicating with a pipe, 22, ewhich may be connected with amanually `operated valve. A supply port, 23, leads :from the mainreservoir passage to the piston chamber, 20.

The electric portion of the coupler comprises a casing, 24, adapted tobe bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of the coupler body andpositioned in a laterally inclined 'or diagonal direction parallel withthe direction of approachl of the coupler heads, as shown partlcularlyin Fi 2, said casings containing a plurality o electric contacts, 25,connected tothe respective car circuit wires, 26, and provided with acontact carrier or slide, 27, having correspond- Leeaeae *the same arebrought together for coupling,

and throu h which openings the .contact slide of eit er one of saidcouplers is adaptedl to be projected for the purpose of establishingelectrical connection between the corresponding car line circuits uponthe adjacent cars.

According to one' of the features of my present improvement, the normalrelease position of the contact slide, 27, is in the rear of the fixedelectric contacts, 25, as

shown at, the right in Fig. 1, so 'that theslide which is projectedthrough the openings to bridge over the space and make electricalconnection between lthe couplers does not move the slide of the othercoupler which remains in its retracted position, but simply moves farenough for its electrical contact bars to engage the sets of stationarycontacts in the two casings, as shown in Fig. 1. In this form ofconstruction the slide is projected by admitting fluid to one side oflts actuating piston, and is retracted by admitting Huid to the reverseside-of said piston, there being no springs to oppose the movement ineither direction, and the piston .and slide simply remaining in eitherposition by inertia and the friction of the parts.

Another feature of my improvement comprises improved covers or shutters,31, `for protecting the electric portion and slide against the weatherwhen the slide is in its normal retracted position within the casing.These shutters or covers which enclose the electric contacts. and slideare formed in upper and lower halves, similar to a clam she l, and swingon pivots. 32. so as to meet at their front edges and completely closethe openin in the casing. The covers are provided with projections orbosses, 33, upon their innerw surfaces, for engagement with inclinedsurfaces upon the slide when in its `retracted position for the purposeof causing an opening of the shutters or covers on one coupler by thepreliminary movementI of the sllde of the same coupler. In order to openthe shutters of the other coupler each slide is provided with a wedgeshaped projection, 34, at vone side, and a corresponding notch Eatthe'other side, as shown par icularly 1n Fig. 3. These wedge shapedprojections and notches are made right and left so that the projectionof one slide may pass within the notch on the opposing slide at theextreme projected positions, as will be readily understood.

In order to close certain circuits upon a car when it is at the end of atrain or operated as a single car, oneof the swinging covers orshutters, 31, ma. be rovided with a contact bar, 35, adapte to c osesuch local circuit by connectin contact fingers, 36, when the covers arec osed, but also adapted ,to open said circuit when the covers are movedto the open position, as when one of the slides is projected. It will beseen that when the couplers are separated and the sllde withdrawn, thecovers completely surround the electric contacts and slide, and closethel the outer end of the cylinder for withdraw# ing the slide, it alsoflows through passages, 39, and hollow tappets, 39a, to thecorresponding end of the c linder, 30, on the adjacent coupler, where' yboth slides will be heldin their retracted Ipositions.

According to another feature of my improvement, the movement) of thecoupler lock controls a supply of fluid to the cylinders, 30, forholding the slides in the retracted position until the coupler lockshave sprung into their locked positions. Ona form of valve means forthis purpose is shown as comprising a casing, 40, containing valve, 41,having a stem, 42, actuated by a projection, 43, on the rod, 10, of thelock releasing piston, 8. A spring, 44, tends to hold the valve seated,and the casing is connected to a supply pi e, 45, and an outlet pipe,46. The manual y operated valve, 50, for controlling the variousparts-of the coupler may be located in the cab at the end of each car,-and has a casing, 51, attached to the pipes, 37, and 22, and also asupply pipe, 52. In the normal intermediate or neutral position of thevalve, 50, as shown, the pipes, 37 land 22, are both open to exhaust tothe atmosphere, the valve being turned in one direction to supply Huidfrom pipe, 52, to the pipe, 22, and vin the opposite direction to supplyiuid to the pipe, 3 A double check valve device,` 53, containing valve,54, and spring, 55,. is connected between the pipes, 22, 38, and 46, forpermitting the passage of fluid from either pipe. 22 or 46, tothe pipe,38, but preventing back flow to either pipe, 22 or 46, when Huid isbeing supplied through the other.

The operation of my improved device isv as follows: When the couplersare brought together in the act of coupling, the stems, 15, of thevalves, 14, in the main reservoir line passage engage each other andcause an unseating of the valves, 14, and permits air from the mainreservoir pipe to iiow the y through the coupling and equalize on thetwo cars. At the same timev airl ows through the port, 23, into thechamber, 20, forcing the piston, 19,'against the stem, 18, to unseatthe'smal-l vent valve, 18, thereb releasing air under pressure from thebac of the piston valve, 16, in the brake pipe passage, 13, and causingsaid brake pipe valve to open by the pressure from the brake pipepassage acting upon its opposite face. This valve is thus forced backagainst'its spring, 17, until it seats against a gasket ring, asindicated, thereby preventing leakage around' the valve, and holding thesame in the full open position. The space back of pistons, 16, and. 19,is then in communication with the atmosphere through' the port, 21,pipe, 22, and exhaust ports of Ithevalve, 50.

-During the coupling action, as the oou- -plers approach each other, theprojecting portion of one coupler head engages the pivoted lock, 6, ofthe other coupler, and depresses the same in the Well known man- `ner.This movement operates through the rod, 10, and piston,l8, to partiallycompress the spring, 7, and by moving the pro'ection, 43, against thestem, 42, of the valve, 41, opens the same to permit air from the supplypipe, 45, to How to pipe, 46, to check valve, 53, where it acts on thevalve, 54,

to close the outlet to pipe, 22, and then sure can accumulate in thereleasing cylinders, 9, but the pressure at the outer ends of 4cyhnders,30, on pistons, 29, insures that these pistons and their slides will bein the retracted position during the coupling action.

As soon as the couplers reach 'the full coupled position, the spring, 7,forces the lever, 6, into itslocked position against the counterpartcoupler, and moves the rod, 10, and projection, 43, away from the stem,42, to allow the valve, 41, to close by means of its spring, 44. Thiscuts off the supply of air to the pipes, 46 and 38, and cylinder, 30,and permits the exhaust of such air to the atmosphere through thegrooves in the stem, 42. A similar operation occurs on the oppositecoupler, and completes the cou-A pling up of the car, and the airconnections, and the automatic opening of. the valves in' the latterpassages. It will also be apparent that neither slide .can be projecteduntil bath of the @oupifer locks' have "inovea Ato their properpositions and the couplers are securely locked together. f

The electric ortions of the couplers are then facing each) register, andthe covers closed with the s des in the retracted position, as abovedescribed. The connection of the electric circuits throughpthe coupleris then made by manually turning one of the valves,`50, to the couplingpositiongfor admitting air from the supply, 52, to the pipe, 37, leadingto the inner end of one cylinder, 30, causing the piston,29, therein, tomove outward and project its slide through the opening into thefcasingof the otherY coupler to such position that the contacts, 28, establishelectrical connection between the contacts, 25, of the two couplers andthe corresponding train line circuits, `16, the contacts, 28, beingproperly cross-connected as before explained. Only one of the slides,27, is thus projected, as the other slide is not moved but remains inits retracted position, shown. During the outward movement of the slide,it operates to open the respective sets `of covers 'or shutters, 31, vasabove described, and as the covers are swung open upon their pivots, thelocal circuits at the contacts, 35 and, 36, are broken. The slide thenremainsin its projected position with the electric circuits connectedduring the running period, although the manual valve, 50, is turned backto its neutral position, and the air from Ic linder, 30, and pipe, 37,is exhausted to t evatmosphere.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the valve, 50, upon one of thecars is turned to the uncoupling position, in which air is supplied frompipe, 52, to the pipe, 22, communicatin with'cylinders, 9 and 20, and

- through c eck valve device, 53, and pipe,

YAir also ilows through passages, 39, an

` passage.

38, with the outer end of cylinder, 30.

connecting tappets, 39, to the corres onding parts of the othercoupler.A The s ide, 27 which. was projected, is thereby withdrawn byits piston, 29, and the shutters, 31, are automatically closed as theslide is moved to its retracted position. If desired, springs, 56, maybe em loyed to assist in the closing movement of t e shutters. Thecontact, 35, also closes the local circuit at points, 36, 'when theshutters reach the closed position. At the same time, the air passinginto the unlocking cylinder, 9, forces the piston, 8, outward andreleases the coupler lock, 6. As

vthe air also Hows through the port or passage, 21, and into the chamberback of the closing valve piston, 16, the pressure equal-v izes thereonand the spring forces the valve to its seat and closes the train brakepipe As similar operations are performed on both couplers, due to theair connection through the hollow tappets, the unother with theiropeings in agira .f

coupling action is complete, and the couplers may then be pulled apart.When this oc-Y curs, the lmain reservoir line valves automatically closeand air escapes from chamber outward in releasing the coupler locks, the

valve, 41 willv also be opened, which will incidentally permit anadditional supply of air under pressure to assist in the releasingaction and help oset any leakage between the tap ets, 39, although thissupply is not essentia to the o eration of the device.

In the event o an accidental parting of will not close immediately, asthere is only atinos heric pressure back of the valve, and it wi remainin its open position until the bra-ke` pipe pressure acting on the faceof the valve has diminished below the force of the spring, 17. Thisreduction in brake pi e pressure, during this period ottime, w1 l besuicient to cause a full application of the automatic brakes.

-Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. 1n a coupler, the combination with a casing, and` a movable lockoperated automatically upon the coming ytogether of the counterpartcouplers to lock the same togcther, of electric contacts connected tothe respective car line circuits, a movable contact carrier, a fluidpressure device for operating said carrier, and means governed by themovement of the coupler lock for supplying Huid to said device toprevent the outd ward movement of the carrier.

2. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, and a movable f lockoperated automatically uponthe coming together of the counterpartcouplers to lock the same togcther, of electric contacts connected tothe respective'car line circuits, a rmovable contact carrier, a pistonfor actuating said carrier, and a valve controlled by the movement ofthe coupler lock for supplying fluid to said piston to prevent outwardmovement of the carrier.

3. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, a' movable lock, and adevice for releasing said lock, of electric contacts connected to therespective train line circuits, a movable contact carrier adapted to beprorojecting said carrier, and means governed iis y the movement of saidlock for controlling 85 i the couplers, the valve, 16, in the brakepipe, p

a supply of fluid pressure to hold the carrier in its retractedposition.

4. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, a movable lock, and adevice for releasing said lock, of electric contacts connected to therespective train line circuits, a movable contact carrier adapted to beprojected into av counterpart coupler for establishing electricalconnections Withk the corresponding contacts therein, a piston forretracting said carrier, and a valve governed by the movement of thelock for controlling a supply of fluid to said iston for holding thecarrier in its retracted) position.

5. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, and a movable lockoperated automatically upon the coming together of the counterpartcouplers to lock the same together, of electrlc contacts connected tothe respective car line circuits, a movable con tact carrier, a istonfor retracting said carrier, a .manual y o erated valve for controllinga supply of uid to said piston, and a valve governed by the movement ofthe coupler lock for also supplying iluid to said piston.

6. In a coupler,.the combination witlr a casing, and a movable lockoperated automatically upon the coming together of the counterpartcouplers to lock the same together, of electric contacts connected tothe respective car line circuits, a movable contact carrier, apistonvfor retracting said carrier, a manually operated valve forcontrolling a supply of luld to said piston, a valve overned by themovement of the coupler.v ook :for also sup lying fluid to said 4iston,and a check valve ocated between sais controlling valves and saidpiston.

7. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, and a movable lockoperated' automatically upon the coming together of the couplers to lockthe same together; of electric contacts connected to the respectivetrain line circuits, a movable contact carrier, a. piston vfor actuatingksaid contact carrier and a valve governed by the movement of the lockfor controlling a supply of fluid to, and an exhaust from, one side ofsaid piston.

8. The combination with a vertical plane coupler in which the counterart coupler heads approach each other in a ateral or diagonal dlrectionin the act of coupling', of an electric portion having contacts'connected to the respective car line circuits, a contact carrier, andmeans for projecting said carrier in a direction paralle with thediagonal approach movement of the coupler heads to electrically connectythe corresponding contacts of the counterpart couplers.

9. The combination with a vertical plane coupler in which the counterart coupler heads approach each other in a ateral or diagonal directionin the act of coupling, of an electric lportion having contactsconnected to the respective car line circuits, a contact carrier, and apiston for actuating said carrier, said piston and carrier bein solocated as tomove in a direction paralle with the diagonal approachmovement of the coupler heads.

10. In a coupler, the combination of a casing containing electriccontacts connected to the respective car line circuits, a movablecontact carrier, and a pair of pivoted covers for enclosing saidcontacts and the carrier and closing the opening in the casing, saidcontact carrier havin a wedge shaped projection for opening t e pivotedcovers of a counterpart coupler.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS R. BROWN'.

